A brief look at the sea, sealife and how anglers fit in
The sea isn’t like it used to be. The fish and the ecosystems of which they are a part are severely degraded – mere shadows of their former selves. There are more fishermen with better technology chasing fewer fish to feed more people. If current practices continue there can only be one result – no more fish. The United Nations estimates that over two thirds of marine fisheries are fully exploited, over exploited or depleted. Some fish species, such as bluefin tuna, are at serious risk of extinction. Their numbers are down to, at best, 10% of what they were before people started targeting them. In some areas, such as the North Sea, they are entirely extinct – yes there used to be bluefin in the North Sea!
The favourite fish and chip meal is also in danger of disappearing. In the North Sea and Eastern Channel, 95% of cod from each year class are killed.
Shifting Baselines
People’s perceptions change as well. Fish that we would now consider
to be “big” would have been considered only average sized in times
gone by. This idea of changing perceptions has become known as
“shifting baselines” and is well illustrated by the following
video:
The argument for catch & release and maximum size limits
Bigger fish produce more eggs. A small mature fish might produce a few thousand eggs but a large mature fish of the same species will produce over a million eggs. Therefore it pays to put bigger fish back in the sea as they contribute significantly more to future stocks. Minimum sizes certainly have an important role to play in conserving fish stocks but arguably maximum sizes should also be used as a management tool.
In Maine, for example, lobsters at the minimum size limit of 3.25 inches produce about 100 eggs. At the maximum legal limit of 5 inches, a single female produces 100,000 eggs. Big lobsters are returned alive to the sea and, partly as a result of this, the lobster fishery in Maine is thriving.
In Europe, seabass can grow up to a metre long and live for over 25 years. Males mature at 31-35 cm (3-6 years) and females at 40-45 cm (5-8 years). With the European minimum landing size for bass set at 36cm, all fish on the legal size limit will never have spawned, still being juveniles. For a look at how the problem of bass overfishing is being tackled, go to http://www.ukbass.com
Another favourite, cod, matures at 50 cm (4-5 years) and can live for up to 60 years and yet, incredibly, the minimum landing size in Europe is 35 cm. In Iceland, it is 55 cm, and, not surprisingly, the cod stock there is still viable unlike in EU waters.
Anglers and the marine environment – a duty of care
While commercial fishing clearly has a huge effect on fish stocks, anglers also have an impact. However, if sensibly practised, recreational angling can be compatible with conserving, or even encouraging growth in, fish stocks.
For anglers to have a positive effect on marine ecosystems, they must first make themselves as aware as they can about the state of the sea and the life within it. The first step in this process should be to acknowledge that, put simply, there are not plenty more fish in the sea.
Commercial fishermen and government have largely failed in their duty as guardians of the sea but this responsibility could be taken up by anglers. With this responsibility comes a duty to take great care of the marine environment. Gone are the days when it should be seen as acceptable to catch 30 fish in an afternoon and keep them all. Bag limits, whether imposed or voluntary, must be respected. On the other hand, catch and release of fish has been shown to have a limited negative effect on fish welfare and is to be encouraged.
Ultimately, angling is a highly selective method of fishing and responsible anglers can coexist with a vibrant marine ecosystem, something that cannot be said of certain commercial fishing methods.
Marine Reserves – their importance and why to support them
Marine Reserves, Marine Protected Areas or No Take Zones are areas of the sea which are closed off permanently to all forms of fishing. The scientific consensus is that they must form a vital component in managing fisheries across the world. By closing certain areas, ecosystems are allowed to regenerate, leading to an overall increase in fish stocks as a result of spill over from the closed areas. It is estimated that at least 30% of the world’s seas need to be closed in this way to avoid a total collapse of marine ecosystems. Marine Reserves have already been in existence for some time in parts of the world and will become more widespread in the future. Rather than focus on the negative aspects of closing areas of the sea to fishing, there is an opportunity for anglers, as one of the sea’s key user groups, to take a positive part in the debate on the size and location of potential reserves. For an interesting look at how Marine Reserves can lead to thriving ecosystems, watch the following videos showing marine life inside and outside an established Reserve. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaZWkn1YwGQ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpUkknA-NY0
The future of the sea
If it is to be business as usual for destructive and irresponsible fishing practices, eventually all that will be left in the sea will be jellyfish and bacteria. On the other hand, fishing is fun and if we all do our best to look after our common resource, there is no reason why we won’t still be fishing successfully for a long time to come.
See you out there!
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